Competition launched to name Hull 802 ferry at Ferguson's

Hull 802 has become infamous in recent years due to the lengthy delays and soaring costs of the contract to build both her and sister ship MV Glen Sannox.

Now as work on the saga finally edges towards a conclusion, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the Port Glasgow based public authority which oversees 26 harbours on the west coast of Scotland and owns 37 ferries, is calling for the public’s to help give the unnamed ship a title.

It says the two dual-fuel ferries being built at Ferguson's for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network will 'provide a fully flexible year-round service for Arran'.

But the controversial vessels are more than five years late and are expected to cost around £350m, instead of the original £97m contract price.

Hull 802's launch is likely to take place towards the end of this year and she is scheduled to follow Glen Sannox into passenger service by the end of 2024.

A shortlist of names has been produced after consulting with islanders and local communities, CMAL say.

The names have ties to Scottish heritage and the landscape on Arran.

Anyone can vote and the most popular name will be given to Hull 802.

Voters will be entered into a competition to win a free return journey on one of the ferries for four passengers and a car.

The shortlisted names are: Glen Cloy (after a small valley on the east coast of Arran),  Glen Rosa (a glen near Goat Fell on Arran) and Claymore (from the Gaelic Claidheamh Mòr, meaning ‘great sword').

The vote is being held online at www.cmassets.co.uk and it closes on August 23.

Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, said: “The two ferries, Glen Sannox and Hull 802, will be a welcome addition to our Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network - however Hull 802 is currently nameless.

“We know there’s a lot of interest in the dual fuel ferries, so we hope to see this translate into votes."

READ MORE: Ferguson Marine boss on yard's future after ferries fiasco

The 102-metre ferries will be able to operate on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel.

Bosses at CMAL say LNG is 'significantly cleaner' and has been adopted by ferry operators in northern Europe in response to tighter emissions regulations.

The two ships are designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs, or a combination of both.

Bosses at Ferguson's recently told the Tele of their confidence at being able to complete the work at last and move on.

Shipyard chief executive Mr Tydeman said: "I really hope that we can put this behind us and just see it as a complex chapter with a lot of mistakes made all around."